Page 4 of She Saw What He Did

I sigh.

‘I know. I’m sorry.’

I remind myself that the idea of this holiday is to heal the damage, and the first thing I do is open the wounds all over again. I’m trying, but I’m missing Sam, and I still feel hurt. Surely Jared can understand that?

It is perfect. Everything is. The island, the little holiday annexe, but I can’t stop worrying about Sam, our fractured marriage and how it might affect our daughter.

‘I hope Sam is okay,’ I say, smoothing out Jared’s shirt and hanging it in the small wardrobe.

‘She’s fine,’ he says with a sigh. ‘Mum and Dad have loads planned. She won’t even know we’ve gone.’

He encircles my waist, pulling me to him.

‘This is our time. A second chance. Let’s enjoy it.’

‘Yes,’ I say.

He gives me a yearning look.

‘I love you Abby, and I’m so sorry.’

His voice breaks.

‘I know,’ I say, kissing him. There’s a tap at the door and I’m relieved. It’s the chalet owner.

‘I forgot to give you the password for the Wi-Fi,’ he smiles.

‘That’s great, thanks,’ says Jared.

‘First time on St Cecilia’s?’ he asks.

‘Yes, it is. We’ve heard a lot about the islands. We’re looking forward to the nature walks,’ I say.

‘There are some lovely walks, but if you want to see the wildlife you should hire yourself a boat to Laslow Island. It’s uninhabited. You’ll love it there.’

‘Thanks, we’ll do that,’ says Jared.

‘Come far have you?’

‘Fernsea, outside Porthaven,’ says Jared.

‘Ah, yes, lovely little village. Well, if you need anything, we’re only next door.’

As soon as he leaves, I log onto the Wi-Fi and WhatsApp Daphne. I’d already messaged her twice on the ferry.

‘Last time,’ I promise Jared.

There’s a fluttering in my stomach which just won’t go away. We’ve never left Sam more than a few hours with Daphne and Joe. I’m trying not to show my anxiety, but Jared knows me too well and as soon as I start twiddling my wedding ring he says,

‘She’s fine Abby, believe me.’

I nod.

‘Yes, I’m sorry. This will be my last message. I promise.’

‘Good, because I want to take you out for lunch and then I thought, if you weren’t too tired, we could go for a walk. It’s a beautiful day. There are a lot of geocaches here. Let’s see what treasure we can find to take home for Sam.’

We’d been geocaching with our daughter, Sam, most weekends since … well, since Jared betrayed us with the new intern at the company; a vivacious twenty-one-year-old. She’d flattered him, and I’d been preoccupied with Sam, he’d said. It seemed I never noticed him. Of course, it was much more complicated than that. I’d gone off sex a year after Sam was born. I should have gone to the doctor instead of letting things drag on. I realise that now, but Jared hadn’t complained. I thought things were okay between us. We weren’t young love, but who is after having a child? I’d been devastated about the affair. I couldn’t understand what had happened. Jared was my whole life and I suddenly discovered that I hadn’t been his. I felt broken inside. I struggled for weeks to understand how we came to be here, in this dark place of distrust and hurt. The sense of betrayal rocked my very core. The one person I had trusted most in the world had deceived me in the most painful way possible.

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